The 9 Best Places To Retire In Argentina

Written by Glen in South America

When retiring to Argentina these are the must know places and I will tell you why.  We will discuss the weather, how many people there are, how to get around, what to eat and all the basics you will want to know to retire there comfortably. 

Argentina has a rich and vibrant culture with a large Italian and European influence.  The people are friendly, the country is safe and your dollar will stretch very far.  Being a spanish speaking country the latin influence can be seen daily in the daily lives of the people to get outside and celebrate life.  

The 8 Best Places To Retire In Argentina Are:

  • Buenos Aires
  • Cordoba
  • Mendoza
  • Rosario
  • Bariloche
  • Mar del Plata
  • Santa Fe or Paraná
  • San Juan

Now that you know what the best places are let’s dig in deeper and I will tell you why I like each place.

Why Retire In Argentina?

There are many cities where you can live in Argentina, many of them have similar climates, but what stands out each of them is the lifestyle. You can live in really busy cities like Buenos Aires or escape to quieter cities like Mendoza or San Juan. Security in Argentina is great with a large police presence everywhere.  

Argentina is characterized as one of the largest beef exporters in the world, so the quality is very good and the prices are cheap. It is also a producer of the best wines in Latin America.  And who doesn’t like kicking back with a glass of good quality wine especially when it is cheap.  

If wine isn’t your thing a 2L bottle of name brand spirits can cost as little as 4 usd.  They also have a wide selection of craft beers.  All of this as well as a friendly and welcoming people makes it the ideal destination to retire. 

TIP: Don’t get money out at local automated teller machines (atm) unless you are stuck as they will charge 10 USD per transaction and limit your withdrawal amount.  The way you can get a much better exchange rate and bigger amounts of money is with Western Union.  You will normally get 10 pesos or more per dollar than the ATMs.

Where To Find A Home?

Whether you are buying or renting the real estate website below will help you out.  You will notice we have given you a national website and then a local real estate agent in each city.  

There are other ways to find a place to rent depending on your budget and there is a Facebook marketplace where you can find really cheap shared accommodation.  Change your location to Buenos Aires and then click on Property Rentals or House Sales.  You will find that if you are buying, prices will be in USD due to a fluctuating local peso.

TIP: I generally use Airbnb for the first month with their large discounts on stays over 28 days to get me started and then look for local property.  Just be careful for those long stays you have to cancel or change 1 month out or you are stuck with it.

Top Real Estates To Look At In Argentina:

Why live in Buenos Aires?

Temperature – 8 to 30.1 deg C /  46.4 to 87.9 deg F

Population – 3.1 million

Tourist Information – https://turismo.buenosaires.gob.ar/en

Buenos Aires is the capital of the country considered one of the safest cities in Latin America with the best quality of life. This cosmopolitan city is located on the southern bank of the Río de la Plata. It has a great tourist destination and has been set up to cater to people from all over the world.  Being one of the best places in South America to live you will find a very multicultural community. 

Security-wise you will notice from when you arrive at the airport there are police everywhere and on each street corner during the day.  They have cameras throughout the city which you can see at their central monitoring station in the center of town.  

I personally felt safe everywhere even when having a meal out at night.  This does not mean like with any large city in the world you don’t take basic safety precautions.  Much like you would in London or New York.

The gastronomy and nightlife of this city are very vibrant and as with most Latin countries it is a late start at around 9m. The climate of Buenos Aires is considered temperate but can get cold in the winter with wind chill factor.  The public transport system is great and trains run in a spoke from the center of town.  

The busses connect the train lines and criss-cross the city so that every second street has a bus.  While the trains shut down late at night the busses run 24 hours.  A trip across the whole city will cost you less than 0.25 USD.   

One of the things I especially like about Buenos Aires is that you will find every Latin food there.  Scattered throughout the city you will find fresh pasta stores that make every type of pasta you can think of fresh daily.  

Go in and buy by the kilo and stuff your face with the lovely fresh taste.  But be sure not to leave it in the fridge too long as it will spoil quickly with no preservatives or having been dried out.  Every local cantina has burgers and fries with a normal meal and drinks costing around 4 USD.

The local street food is empanadas, choripan and Argentina BBQ (asado).  Make sure you check out Tienda de Empanadas, if you put it in google maps you will find them everywhere.  They do have a Chinatown which is worth a visit for all the cheap fried food you want on a stick or sit-down restaurant.

Types of Transport

Transport Information – https://www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte

  • Intercity and Metro Buses
  • Long Distance Overland Trains
  • Metro Subway
  • Taxis – Hail, Call or at a rank
  • Rideshare Services – Uber
  • Bikes for Rent and Bicycle paths
  • Bus Terminals
  • Ferries or as we like to say Puerto Marítimo
  • Airports – 2 International, 1 Domestic
  • Electric Scooters – although can be a little expensive

What To Do

Why live in Cordoba?

Temperature – 5 to 30 deg C /  41 to 86 deg F
Population – 1.6 million
Tourist Information – https://www.cordobaturismo.gov.ar/

Córdoba is a city in the province of Córdoba located west of the central region of Argentina. It is the second most populated city in Argentina after Buenos Aires.  As a university town, most of its inhabitants are young people and students. 

The climate is considered temperate due to being in the center of Argentina and about a 7 ½ hours drive northwest of Buenos Aires.  There are two major lakes within a 2-hour drive called Lago Salinas Grandes and Laguna Mar Chiquita.

Just the same as Buenos Aires with the types of food but not as multicultural due to being a smaller town.  But with a smaller town feel and more local foods.

Transport

  • Bicycles or Ciclovias
  • Buses and Trolleybus System
  • Taxis
  • Omnibus Terminal
  • Trains
  • Airport

What To Do

Why live in Mendoza?

Temperature – 3 to 32 deg C /  37.4 to 89.6 F
Population – 1.1 million
Tourist Information – https://www.mendoza.gov.ar/turismo/

Mendoza is a city located east of the Andes mountain range. The climate of this city is considered arid with a predominantly hot and humid summer and a cold and dry winter. The city is known for its wine fields and beautiful landscapes.  It offers a very varied array of cultural and artistic activities.  

It is also the closest city to Santiago in Chile where you can drive to Santiago in around 5 hours or a short flight.  Again being a smaller city it has a more authentic feel and being so close to Chile has some Chilean influences in the food and culture.

NOTE: These are the top of the line restaurants where a meal will cost around 20 USD which is extremely cheap for the quality of food and local restaurants a meal will start at less than 5 USD.

Transport

  • Metrotranvia
  • Buses
  • Taxis
  • Airport

What To Do

Why live in Rosario?

Temperature – 8 to 30 deg C / 46.4 to 86 F
Population – 1.1 million 
Tourist Information – https://rosario.tur.ar/

Rosario is the third most populated city in Argentina, located in the southeast of the Santa Fe province in front of the Paraná River. The climate of this city is considered humid subtropical. This city is a quiet city with lots of local cultures and great food. Being only a 3-hour drive from Buenos Aires you get the local town feel while still having access to a major city.  

Normally the security here is great but recently they have had a few problems late at night.  But I am sure it will be fixed soon and you can watch the local news for updates.  The local newspaper is La Capital.  The usual trick of opening it in the Chrome browser and letting it translate for you.

Transport

  • Bus Terminal
  • Airport
  • Trains
  • Urban and Interurban Bus System
  • Taxis

What To Do

Why live in Bariloche?

Temperature – 0 to 24 deg C /  32 to 75.2 F
Population – 125K
Tourist Information – https://tronadorturismo.com.ar/

San Carlos de Bariloche better known as Bariloche is a city located in the Patagonian Andes. The nature reserves, lakes, forests, and mountains are the main attractions of this city. This city is one of the quietest in Argentina although the lifestyle can be slightly expensive compared to other cities in the country.  This is due to the tourist type town that it is. 

 But with such a small city the security is great like most small towns.  There is a massive amount to do here with so many local natural wonders and being right on Lago Nahuel Huapi.  As you will notice on the temperatures you will get snow and it is a cold place during the winter but in the summer months you get the joy of the lake.

Transport

  • Airport
  • Bus TerminalBus
  • Trains
  • System
  • Taxis

What To Do

Why live in Mar del Plata?

Temperature – 8 to 26 deg C / 46.4 to 78.8 F
Population – 593K
Tourist Information – http://www.turismomardelplata.gob.ar/

Mar del Plata is a city located in the southeast of the province of Buenos Aires. It is a coastal city known for its spas so it can become a very busy city in the high season. While Argentina is not known for its beaches this city has a beach which is another major drawcard for the town.  

The climate of this city is considered temperate oceanic. The economy of this city is based on fishing and tourism.  This means you can find fresh seafood and restaurants have a lot of it on the menu. 

The security in the town is good and you will have nothing to worry about if you follow the normal travel precautions.  Don’t wear expensive jewelry and wander down dark alleys in the middle of the night and that kind of thing.

Transport

  • Airport
  • Bus Terminal
  • Trains
  • Urban Bus System
  • Taxis

What To Do

Why live in Santa Fe or Paraná?

Temperature – 10 to 31 deg C / 50 to 87.8 F
Population – 850K
Tourist Information 
https://tourism.ar/santa-fe/

The City of Santa Fe is the eighth-most populated city in Argentina and has a sister city of Paraná. Located in the center East on the shore of the Setúbal lagoon. The climate stands out for being humid subtropical. The temperatures in the town make for good year-round weather.  The two towns are separated by multiple joining rivers which means lots of water and associated activities.  

Santa is a university town with lots of students which makes for a vibrant community and nightlife.  University towns are known for cheap accommodation and food as well as lots of activities and events.  If you like the quieter life then Parana is the better choice for you as most of the universities are located in Santa Fe.  It is roughly a 30 min drive between the towns.

Transport

  • Airport
  • Bus System
  • Trains
  • Taxis
  • Bus Terminal

What To Do

Why live in San Juan?

Temperature – 2 to 33 deg C / 35.6 to 91.4 F
Population – 480K
Tourist Information – https://www.sanjuan.tur.ar/

San Juan, almost in the extreme southwest of South America, has a desert climate with little annual rainfall. San Juan is probably the quietest city in Argentina. Characterized by its mountainous landscapes.  It is nestled within multiple mountain ranges.

The local lake is Dique de Ullum which is a 30 mins drive where you can do all of your water sports.  The town is safe and while it gets cold during the winter has a great summer as well.  

Transport

  • Terminal de Omnibus Bus
  • System
  • Airport
  • Taxis

What To Do

Transport

Most cities in Argentina use the Unique Electronic Ticket System (SUBE) as means of payment for public transport. This is a reloadable card that can be obtained at train stations, kiosks, and other places that you can find on the link below. It should be mentioned that SUBE is the only valid payment method for all public transport services in the City of Buenos Aires.

LINK: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/SUBE

Health Care

The health care in Argentina is very similar to that of the United States with only a small gap between their rankings globally as per the World Health Organisation rankings.  You can see this list below.  The major difference is it will cost you a lot less for similar health care in Argentina and you can check those prices out on the actual health care providers below.

LINK: World Health Care Rankings

Here are some of the biggest national Private Health Care Providers in Argentina:

TIP: If the website does not have an English version open in Microsoft Edge or Chrome Browser and it will translate it for you.

What is the Language in Argentina?

Spanish is the language of Argentina and all of central and south American other than Brazil so a very handy language to learn.  English is spoken in 67 countries and Spanish in 21 so the next widest spoken language country wise.  How can you learn Spanish?  There are literally thousands of courses, software, youtube videos, podcasts, audiobooks, and real books (old-school television) that you have to choose from. 

Here are my recommended steps to learn Spanish:

  1. Download the DuoLingo App on your phone available in iTunes and Google Play.
    Use this for a few months and get a couple of levels up doing at least 2 to 3 lessons a day or more.
  1. Audible – Paul Noble Spanish
    A great companion while using duo lingo and you are out and about.  It will cost a book credit but well worth it and he will tell you some nifty tricks to increase your vocabulary.
  1. Find a language exchange partner on iTalki or Tandem and start practicing your skills.  Both websites have an integrated app that you can get from iTunes or Google Play as well.  iTalki makes a book companion to learn Spanish as well which if you like hard copy will be a great start for you.

4. Finally, when you get into the country you can do a local language course and not feel completely befuddled and
out of place.

Here are some language schools in Argentina you can check out:

NOTE: Check Retire In Argentina: 16 Real Pros and Cons to know all the pros and cons that many people find about Argentina, let’s have a look and do not miss the opportunity to live here.

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